When we think of early childhood safety, we often think of things like childproofing our homes, preventing choking, or making sure car seats are the best fit. However, the leading cause of injury related death for children is firearms.
Recent tragedies in Durham involving unsecured firearms in homes with children highlight the importance of gun safety and gun violence prevention. In addition to being a victim of gun injury or death, young children who are exposed to gun violence or loss of a loved one experience trauma that can have significant mental health impacts that are long lasting.
Addressing gun safety and violence requires all of us to become educated, have hard conversations, share safety resources and educate our youngest children and their families. One essential resource in our own community is a community-led collaborative, the Firearm Injury Prevention Partnership. Their focus is to promote the safe storage of firearms. The following safety measures are recommended:
– Firearms should be unloaded.
– Firearms should be locked using a cable lock, trigger lock, or stored in a gun safe.
– Ammunition should be stored separately.
If the gun in your home is not safely secured, call the Firearm Injury Prevention Partnership at (919)-560-7765 for a free gun lock or lockbox while supplies last. Check out these additional gun safety tips from Safe Kids Durham below.
Top Tips about Gun Safety (from Duke University Hospital Trauma Center)
– Keep guns out of reach and out of sight of children by storing them securely. Leaving guns unsecured – on a nightstand, table, or other place where a child can gain access – can lead to injuries and fatalities.
– Store guns unloaded and secured with effective, child-resistant gun locks in a locked container out of the reach and sight of children.
– When a gun is not being stored, keep it in your immediate possession and control at all times. Otherwise, store the gun unloaded, locked and separate from ammunition.
– Talk to the grandparents and parents of your children’s friends about guns in the home and how to safely store and secure them.
– If you decide that you no longer need a gun in your home, dispose of it in a safe way. Consult with local law enforcement on the best way to do so.
All of us have a responsibility to help keep children safe and this means recognizing gun safety as an important early childhood issue. We can foster a community that encourages firearm safety through conversations, advocacy, and resource-sharing. Learn more about Durham County’s Firearm Injury Prevention Partnership at: https://dconc.gov/Public-Health/Community-Programming/Community-Wellness-Resources/Gun-Safety
Resources on Trauma:
Written by: Kristen Luft, Community Awareness Manager
